The latest parish magazine is out now and inside you will find news, events, ideas, reflections, advertisements, pictures, contacts and more, to give you a snapshot of what is going on across our parish.
There’s lots of good news at the moment and lots to look forward to this year. Read on and find out more… And don’t forget to enter our poetry competition – write a Poem for Farnham and you could win £25!
You can download the magazine here:
Come to our craft market on Saturday, February 19, 10am-2pm at St Mark’s, Alma Lane, GU9 0LT, and buy lovely gifts and treats while supporting local businesses and individual crafters. There will be glass, sweets, hand and face creams, knitting, soaps, cards, pottery, candles and many other gifts, made by skilled local craftspeople. Along side this there will be live music and refreshments, plus a chance to see the Kitty Milroy murals.
And if you are a crafter, why not have a stall? Contact craft@badshotleaandhale.org or 07842761919.
Come and explore the symbolism of the Christingle in our service at St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, at 10am on Sunday, January 30.
Make a Christingle and find out what the orange, red ribbon, sweets, fruit and candle mean.
Suitable for all ages.
This year, during Lent, we are going to take a look at the subject of forgiveness and be asking some in-depth questions, such as:
· What is forgiveness?
· Do others need to repent before we forgive them?
· Is resentment a bad thing?
· Is forgiveness sometimes impossible?
The course will be run by the clergy, and Michelle Chapman will be running a family course.
We won’t be following a book; instead there will be a booklet with questions and a list of optional resources which you might or might not wish to engage with. It will be quite possible to take part in the course without looking at any of the other resources.
Please let Alan know if you would like to be part of a Lent Course this year, either online or in person, and what days or evenings are good for you. Also, please let him know if you would be willing to host a meeting.
Enter our poetry competition which is being run in conjunction with the inaugural Farnham Literary Festival which is being held across Farnham between March 5th and 13th.
Take part in the competition and you could find yourself reading your poem at a poetry evening on Saturday, March 12th at St Mark’s Church.
There is a children’s competition, open to under-16s, and an adult one, and all you have to do is write a poem about Farnham – what it means to you, what you like or dislike, what the town feels like to you, its history, its people… anything you want to write which means Farnham to you.
Then send it in to us to reach us by 5pm on Monday, February 14th. Send your entries by email to poetry@badshotleaandhale.org or by post to Poetry Competition, St Mark’s Church and Community Centre, Alma Lane, Farnham, GU9 0LT.
There is no word limit, but entries should be typed, double-spaced.
The children’s poetry competition is being judged by poet Coral Rumble and the adult one by poet Ellora Sutton.
Coral Rumble is an award-winning poet specialising in writing and performing for children. She has had four poetry collections published, with Things that Should be in a Poem out soon. Her verse novel Little Light was published last year and she has also written picture books and for children’s TV. You can find her at www.coralrumble.co.uk and she tweets @RumbleCoral.
Ellora Sutton, she/her, is a queer poet, museum professional, and critic. Her work has been published in the Poetry Review, Interpreter’s House, Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, fourteen poems and Poetry News, amongst others. She reviews poetry for Mslexia. She tweets @ellora_sutton, or you can find her at ellorasutton.com.
Join us this Saturday, January 15, at St Mark’s between 10am and 2pm, for the first of this year’s monthly craft markets.
There will be pottery, soaps, glass, cards, jewellery, textiles and all manner of gifts for sale, made by local craftspeople. Browse and buy while you listen to live music, then take a look at the Kitty Milroy murals which featured on BBC TV last month. Then stop off for a hot drink, a savoury roll, cakes and biscuits.
Come and support small businesses as you shop and eat.
Remembrance Sunday is on November 14th this year and there will be services at each of the churches in the Parish – 9.30am at St John’s, 10am at St George’s and 11.10am at St Mark’s. There will also be an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Badshot Lea following the St George’s service. Anyone wishing to attend that who has not been at the service is asked to arrive for around 10.50am.
The St Mark’s service will follow the Act of Remembrance at the Hale War Memorial at 10.45am, where there will be a two-minute silence at 11am. This will be attended by Farnham Brass Band, the Scouts and Upper Hale councillor Cllr Pat Evans, and Cllr Evans and the Scouts will then continue on to St Mark’s for a service.
Lesley Crawley will also lead an Act of Remembrance at Weybourne Village Hall at 4pm.
The third Farnham Festival of Remembrance will take place this year on Saturday, November 13. Once again, because of Covid, it will be online here on the website and on Facebook from 6pm.
Among those taking part are faith leaders, the Mayor of Farnham; Alder Valley Brass; Princess of Wales Royal Regiment; Army and Air Cadets; Farnham Heath End School, Potters Gate School and the Parish Choir, and they will present a moving evening of music, poetry, reflections, prayers, hymns and readings which will pay tribute to all those who have served in times of conflict and peace.
Simon Alexander has organised the event and reminds us that while we understand that Remembrance is a time to pay tribute to all those who serve and have served to protect and defend us, that “War comes in many forms and, as such, the public service of our Armed Forces comes in many forms too. This year we have leant on the help of our military again in our time of need here at home to help us deliver essential services during the pandemic. Dedicated, agile and responsive as ever, the men and women of our Armed Forces have responded to our nation’s call.”
Our thanks go to everyone who has taken part. Please join us online for this year’s Farnham Festival of Remembrance from 6pm on November 13 here on www.badshotleaandhale.org and Facebook.
Our November magazine is now here.
This month is reflective as we head into the season of remembrance with the Farnham Festival of Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday itself.
But there is also celebration with Kitty Milroy’s birthday communion and concert on November 7th, and exciting news of a new youth centre in Hale. There are reports from across the community, plenty of local groups and services, and information about local events.
There are also pictures of cute dogs. What more could you want?
Find it below, or pick up your copy in church. If you want it delivered let us know. Email editor@badshotleaandhale.org or call 07842761919.
On the eve of #cop26
the bells at St John’s, Hale, will be ringing out at 6pm tonight as part of a national church call for action on the climate emergency.
Church bells have traditionally been rung to mark significant moments, both in times of celebration, such as victory in war, and as a warning of impending danger, such as invasion. The climate crisis is one of great impending danger and the bells on the eve of the COP26 are a warning symbol, but also one of hope that the conference will lead to action.
Bishop Jo, Bishop of Dorking, explains more here:
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 